8 MILE (2002) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Curtis Hanson

Written by - Scott Silver

Starring - Eminem, Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer

"When it was announced that rapping superstar Eminem, among the highest selling musicians of his generation, would star in a semi-autobiographical film, there were many eyebrows raised. Given the quality and nature of previous star vehicles and film productions of the kind, people might have been forgiven for being prejudiced in preparation of 8 Mile. Yet, even the staunchest detractors had to be impressed and rethink their positions on what is in fact quite an honest and gritty examination of the underground hip hop scene populated by poverty, ignorance, violence and disenchantment. 

The film is ably directed by Curtis Hanson, and is driven by a genuinely intensive beat that finds proper representation in the celebration of these nothing short of street poems and a good soundtrack – which was of course a vital element. However, it is Eminem aka Marshal Mathers that delivered an incredible performance, restrained and so unlike his slim shady MTV loose cannon alter ego that possibly impressed everyone the most and provided the film with the right level of credibility in a film that treasures realism and genuine representation of a particular social and cultural context much more than it does its pop appeal."

Drama, USA/Germany